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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Are you looking for a unique, original, DIY gift for Father's Day? Have you ever seen those secret cans you can buy to store your money or valuables in. They are disguised as a can or a soda pop bottle, but they are made to hide your treasures. I have been wanting to attempt a DIY version of these secret compartment cans and I finally tried it! I made one for my dad for Father's Day and called it a "Secret Stache."

This entire gift took me about 10-15 minutes to make, including designing the tag to go on it. I just wanted something special for my dad to enjoy, and know I was thinking about him. He is also the type to tuck money and treasures in all sorts of places, so I can't imagine he won't be entertained by this gift.

I am going over to my parents tomorrow night to cook lasagna and give him his gift.

Supplies:

French Fried Onion Can with Pop Top

Foam or bubble wrap

Dad's Secret Stache Tag and Ribbon

Directions:

1. Carefully open your can of French Fried Onions to keep top intact.

2. Insert foam circle in the bottom of the can and then a piece to cover the inside wall of the can.

3. Hide your "stache". The foam helps so that you can't hear jewelry or anything metal bang around inside.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Yum! In my valiant attempt to completely clear my fridge and freezer before we move, I discovered a gold mine in this recipe. I have literally been cooking up every odd and end in my house, and combining all sorts of ingredients, so I can use up all of our food by next week. I hate wasting things and throwing things away of worth! This 3 ingredient, super simple, extra fast recipe for blackberry cobbler is incredible!

( Or choose any berry of your choice for this fruit cobbler recipe)

I have seen several times where recipes have called for yellow cake mix for topping, so I thought I would finally try it out.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of iBulb for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

One week left until we move! I am going to miss some of my outdoor beauties that have been established for years. My beautiful shade trees, peach trees, apricot tree, and my gorgeous lilies and irises. All of these low maintenance natural subjects of eye candy will be staying behind...except some of my bulbs.

I have dug up quite a few of my cannas and I hope to have time to rescue some of my irises and move them to our new property. If you have not tried bulbs before, you are truly missing out. One afternoon I planted over 2 dozen bulbs in less then an hour. I watered them 2 different days, and I have not touched them since. They are amazing!

I also quickly put a few in pots on my patio. Have you ever thought of giving someone bulbs as a unique birthday or anniversary gift? I would love to get such a clever and unique gift. It is literally the gift that keeps giving year after year. It would also be a wonderful gesture for someone that has lost a loved one. What a wonderful tribute to plant some gorgeous flowers that will pop up year after year. The gift giving potential is endless!

Wondering yet where to pick up some bulbs of your own? They are available at garden shops, grocery stores, flower shops and more. Just look around and you will be surprised where you can pick up some of your own!

Look at this vibrant arrangement to inspire you. Which color is your favorite? I really appreciate the different variety of colors and style possibilities. They are a unique, naturally aesthetic, decoration for your home or even office.

Go buy some today and explore the endless opportunities to grow and display your gorgeous bulbs!

Friday, June 7, 2013

When last summer was just around the corner, I began thinking about the long 3 months ahead of us, and the Texas heat. My son's can get a little bored without the constant stimulation of school, and it is hard to go outside in the peak heat of the day. I figured my friends might need some boredom busters too, so I dreamed up the summer of the traveling book boxes. It reminds me of the concept of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Have you read the story or seen the movie? It is precious.

My plan was to create multiple themed book boxes with books, games, activities, crafts, and entertainment ideas. We would trade out every 2-3 weeks and get a new box for our kiddos. I tried to make them light at first, so I could ship them back and forth. Then I realized everyone was truly close enough, that we could just drop them off.

I sent out an email to see who might be interested in my crazy plan. I received four positive replies back and I began creating my book boxes. This being the second summer, it appears that everyone is in on the idea again. This year I am going to solicit some help from some of the other moms to hopefully make a book box each.

The first one I created this summer is themed Frogs!

I sent a printed sheet with this picture and a listing of the contents and activities.

Frog Book
Box Contents

·Frog
Incentive Chart with star stickers. Place a sticker on the chart as you read
each frog book. When all ten books have been read, reward your child with one
of the Frog blowouts.

·Frog
stuffed animal. Please pick a frog to keep. Let your child name their frog and
bring them along on their frog reading adventures.

·Too
Many Frogs by Sandy Asher

·The
Big Wide-Mouthed Frog (please take one of these books and keep it for your
child’s collection.)

·Froggy
Loves Books (please take one of these books and keep it for your child’s
collection)

·The
Teeny Weeny Tadpole by Sheridan Cain

·National
Geographic Kids Frogs!

·The
Day the Frogs Came to Lunch by Suzanne Weyn

·Let’s
Go Froggy! by Jonathan London

·Froggy
Goes to Camp by Jonathon London

·From
Tadpole to Frog by Wendy Pfeffer

·Frog
in the Kitchen Sink

·Game:
Frog Leap Pad Launcher. Remove the small plastic frogs from the bag. Place one
in the large bottle cap top on the launcher. Set out the plates as lily pads.
Now launch away and try to get your frog back to its lily pad.

(Launcher made from a piece of 2x4, clothespin glued on top, tongue depressor glued on the clothespin, and a bottle cap on the end of the tongue depressor. Launch away!)

Game: Frog Jump and Measure. Make a starting line with chalk on the sidewalk. Jump like a frog and measure with a tape measure how far you made it. Leave your little frog stuffed animal as a marker. Keep trying and see if you can out jump the other "frogs" in your family.

·Craft:
Frog Foam Activity Kit

·Have
fun! Make sure everything on this list is returned to the book box for the next
child.

·Let
me know when you have worn out your book box and we will trade. I am hoping to
trade about every 3 weeks and just meet up with you. Thanks! Michelle

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Jel Sert for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

What are some of your favorite snacks for your kiddos? It seems to be without fail, every night while I am cooking dinner, the kids become hungry before dinner is ready. At only 20 calories per Fla-Vor-Ice, and ten cents a serving, I have found them to be a quick and easy low sugar snack to hold off my little monsters until dinner. My boys think they have tricked me into having dessert before dinner. Ha. Ha. Jokes on them for this "mom approved" snack. A little real fruit juice frozen into a tasty and refreshing treat never hurt anyone before dinner. They are also allergen free! My children pick their favorite flavors by color. I would have to agree red and purple are my favorite too. Fla-Vor-Ice is available in Original fruit flavors, Tropical flavors, and even a Sugar-Free variety. Oh, and another little secret...I love them too. I have to admit I consumed quite a few of them in my first few months of my pregnancy. They seemed to settle my tempramental stomach and soothe the nausea. Have you checked out the Fla-Vor-Ice facebook page filled with tons of fun ideas? Please join me in liking Fla-Vor-Ice on Facebook. They. They .. .. Th

About Me

Welcome! Thanks for visiting. I am a wife, mother of two small boys, and a nurse. I enjoy crafts, activities, and just experimenting in general. My true love is quilting but that is always a big endeavor. Therefore, I am always up for creating short and simple crafts for myself, gifts, and for my kids to participate in. I find true joy in just small attempts at creativity!